In the 15-year period of 2005 through 2019, canines killed 523 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 66% (346) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »
Statistical information gathered by DogsBite.org is verifiable through news reports and other criteria.1 Our Fatality Citations section documents sources used in our dog bite fatality research.
| 2012 fatal dog attacks by breed |
|---|
 |
In 2012, 1 dog bite fatality involved canines from 3 different breeds, thus producing a death count total of 41 rather than 39. Eight dog breeds contributed to 1 death: Boston terrier, boxer-mix, cane corso, golden retriever-mix, husky, labrador-shepherd mix, presa canario and 1 unknown breed. The combined breed group, mastiff/bullmastiff, includes: 1 bullmastiff and 1 mastiff-mix (mastiff-Rhodesian ridgeback).
The below items were issued when annual statistics were originally published on January 11, 2013. New fatalities and updates to our 2012 Fatality Statistics may have been added since.
Jace Valdez, 16-months old, was killed by his grandparent's pit bull. The attack occurred in the 27000 block of Medina Circle around 8:00 pm, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said. An arriving deputy found the child inside the home fatally mauled by the dog. The deputy shot and killed the canine after it lunged at him. The boy's grandparents owned the 7-year old male pit bull. His grandmother was the only adult present at the time. The boy's grandfather called 911 when he arrived home. Though not physically injured in the attack, the grandmother was hospitalized for shock. The boy and his mother moved into the grandparent's home about four months earlier, police said. The child's father, Jeremy Valdez, issued a clarifying statement. "Baby Jace had been in Mr. Valdez's sole care and custody for over the past year; however, the child was visiting his mother for the week, where she resides with her parents at their home in Montgomery County and where the attack occurred." At the time of the attack, Jace's mother, Rachel Kimball, was visiting friends in Spring. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 14, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Grandparents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Steven Robertson, 6-years old, was killed by the medical service dog of a Fort Campbell serviceman. The attack occurred around 4:30 pm in the 900 block of Linda Drive. The boy was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where died of is injuries the next morning. At the time of the attack, the boy's family was visiting a serviceman's home, where the dog had been trained to help the soldier with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The boy's father was also a soldier at Fort Campbell. The boy was in the backyard alone with the dog, described as a "small German shepherd," when the dog attacked him in the face, inflicting severe injuries. Part of the dog's training was to "wake up" its owner "in the event he was having a nightmare," Oak Grove Assistant Police Chief Dennis Cunningham said. The dog had no history of aggression, investigators said. "It never showed any aggressive tendencies toward anyone or even other animals," Cunningham said. The owner surrendered his "service" dog and two other dogs to Oak Grove Animal Control. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 30, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | German shepherd | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Family friend |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Howard Nicholson Jr., 2-days old, was killed by a family husky. McKeesport rescue service was dispatched to a home in the 1700 block of Scott Street around 9:30 am. The infant was flown to UPMC Children's Hospital, where he died of "severe head wounds" at 10:55 am. Prior to the attack, the newborn was in a bassinet on the floor. His mother, Brandy Furlong, 21, stepped away to go to the bathroom. She returned to find the newly adopted husky standing over her injured baby. The family also owned three pit bulls -- one was loose in the house and two were locked in the basement. The case took an ethereal turn after images of the husky wearing a "homemade" cast emerged; the dog reportedly broke its leg by jumping a fence or jumping out a window. The husky had also killed the family's cat previously. Before the end of the dog's 10-day quarantine, a rescue advocate, William Uhring, whisked the dog away from custody to save it from euthanasia. After a dramatic court hearing, a judge spared the dog's life and ordered it shipped to an out-of-state sanctuary. [source citations]
| Date of death: | February 16, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Husky | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Parents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes (MISD) |
Diane Jansen, 59-years old, died after being bitten by a pit bull on her mail route. The attack occurred on March 1 at the intersection of Carlann Lane and East Washington Avenue. The pit bull "just shot out of the ... partially closed garage door," Escondido police Lieutenant Chris Wynn said. She suffered an immediate stroke and died three days later. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office stated that Jansen, "developed slurred speech and became unresponsive" as 911 emergency personnel treated her on the scene. She was taken to Palomar Medical Center where she was diagnosed with an intracerebral (brain) hemorrhage. She was admitted into intensive care with a "poor prognosis." On March 3, she was removed from life support and died the next day. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was a hemorrhagic stroke due to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Contributing conditions were "dog bites of the legs." Jansen had been a U.S. Postal Service employee for over 5-years. The dog was impounded and euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 4, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Property owner |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Dylan Andres, 17-months old, was killed by a neighbor's chained rottweiler. The attack occurred around 1:00 pm at 1051 Maynard Street, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said. He was pronounced dead at UF Health Shands hospital. The boy and his mother, Destiny Kieszler, had just returned home from the store. Destiny was unpacking groceries when Dylan got away from her and encountered the chained dog. Chief of Detective Tom Hackney said the rottweiler bit the child repeatedly. Neighbor Jessica Golden, who had gone to the store with Dylan and his mother, was inside her home when she heard Destiny's screams. "We heard screams, running out of the house, and the dog had the baby in its mouth," Golden said. She saw Dylan's father trying to pull the child away from the dog. "The baby was full of blood. It was just a tragedy." Jacksonville Animal Care and Control removed the dog and later euthanized it. In 2021, anti-chaining legislation named "Dylan's Law" was introduced into the Florida State Legislature. The bill died in the Senate Community Affairs Committee. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 9, 2012 | Chained: | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Kylar Johnson, 4-years old, was killed by a neighbor's chained pit bull. The boy was reported missing around 8:00 pm from the 1100 block of Olde Goliad Road. He was discovered dead 14 hours after Victoria County sherriff’s deputies carried out a search-and-rescue effort. At the time of his disappearance, his father was cleaning his car while Kylar was playing nearby. At one point, his father looked up and Kylar was gone. Deputies and neighbors searched the area for hours in the dark, canine search teams were brought in as well. After being foiled by thick fog, the search resumed early the next morning. Kylar's lifeless body was found around 10:30 am in the 300 block of Village Lane in a backyard with 10 chained pit bulls. Preliminary autopsy results confirmed the child was killed by a "single dog." The owner of the pit bulls, Manuel (Manny) Garcia, discovered the boy's body. A grand jury indicted the boy's father, Michael Cole Johnson, 29, on felony criminal negligent homicide, injury to a child and endangering a child. A Judge later dismissed those charges. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 26, 2012 | Chained: | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
James Hurst, 92-years old, was killed by two pit bulls while working in his front yard. The attack occurred at 306 Walnut Street during the afternoon, the Bryan County Sheriff's Office said. "It appears he was chewed and drug around the yard. It wasn't very pretty," Bryan County Undersheriff Kenneth Golden said. The victim's best friend, Levi Duncan, witnessed the aftermath of the attack. "Both feet, his face, his ears. His lips were gone. He didn't even look like the same person." Hurst was transported to the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma, where he died. The two pit bulls, who belonged to a neighbor, had a history of getting loose, Golden said. Durant Animal Control took custody of the dogs. Neighbors, including a young boy, said they had face-to-face encounters with the aggressive pit bulls in the past. Bryan County Sheriff Bill Sturch confirmed the dogs found at the scene had blood on them. Four months later, DNA test results proved the blood evidence on the dogs matched Hurst. By that time, the dogs' owners had moved. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 9, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Aiden McGrew, 2-months old, was killed by a family dog while his father slept. The attack occurred before 11:00 am at 151 Sandpit Drive, Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet said. The mother found her infant son after returning from a doctor's appointment with her 7-year old daughter. Another child, 3, was asleep with the father. The mother left the baby in a "bouncy chair" before leaving. Initially awake that morning, the father fell back asleep, during which, a recently adopted golden retriever-mix, "Bo" pulled the infant from the chair and severed the baby's leg. “This is “one of the worst deaths I have ever handled,” Nesbit said, who ruled the death a homicide. The father, Quintin H. McGrew, 28, was charged with felony unlawful conduct toward a child. After the baby's death another family dog bit one of Aiden's siblings. That dog was removed, leaving two other dogs in the household, including a pit bull-mix. By April 2013, the Department of Social Services had removed the two other children from the home three separate times. In 2017, McGrew pleaded guilty. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 20, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Golden retriever-mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Parents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Jeremiah Eskew-Shahan, 1-year old, was killed by a dog while celebrating his first birthday. The attack occurred in the 1600 block of Navarre Lane shortly before 10:00 pm, Henderson police said. After a long day of opening presents, Jeremiah crawled over to his grandmother's dog, a mastiff-Rhodesian ridgeback mix, and grabbed the dog's fur to pull himself up, as he had done before. This time, the dog clamped its jaws around the boy's head and shook him, breaking his neck. The grandmother tried to free the boy from the dog's jaws. The attack continued for 30 more seconds until the boy's father managed to free him. Jeremiah did not survive his injuries. His father, Chris Shahan, was stunned by the dog's actions. "They played with each other all the time ... they kissed each other ... they slept together," he said. The grandmother signed the dog over to city officials to be euthanized then claimed she did so under duress, setting off a nearly 2-year legal battle to spare the dog's life. In the end, the dog, "Onion," was shipped to an undisclosed out-of-state sanctuary. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 28, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Mastiff-Rhodesian ridgeback mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Grandmother |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Clifford Wright, 74-years old, was killed by one of his pit bulls. Santa Fe police responded to 211 Williams Street after receiving a call at 7:00 pm about a dog attack. The victim's son, Gavin Wright, called 911 after he found his father's body. "He's stiff as a (expletive) brick," he said. "He's got a hole, there's blood. He's gone dude." The state Office of the Medical Investigator confirmed, "the injuries sustained by Mr. Wright were from the dog." The victim owned The Hock Shop, whose website said, it is "the oldest family owned pawn shop in Santa Fe." Wright had been watering plants in his front yard before the attack. Santa Fe police Lt. Louis Carlos said police “walked into a death scene" and described the man's injuries as "grisly." Wright kept up to six dogs at his home that he shared with his son, at least three were pit bulls. In 2005, Wright was bitten by another male pit bull at his home. Gavin described the culprit pit bull, "Achilles," as a playful and loving pet that his father loved even more than himself. "He loved the breed, he loved the dog," Gavin said. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 2, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Son |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Jazilyn Mesa, 15-months old, was killed by her father's pit bull in the backyard of her grandparent's home. The attack occurred around 11:15 am in the 800 block of Stone Canyon Drive, Las Cruces police said. The baby was alone in the backyard under the care of her grandmother when the dog attacked. Upon hearing screams next door, a neighbor retrieved his handgun and shot five bullets at the dog, one of which struck the grandmother's leg. He fired two more rounds at the dog, killing it. Another neighbor rushed over and found both victims under a ground-level trampoline, where the dog had dragged the baby. Both victims were rushed to local hospitals, but Jazilyn did not survive. Three family members were charged after detectives learned the dog, "Tyson," had previously attacked a dog, causing severe scalp injury. Letici Mesa, 52, the baby's grandmother, was charged with negligent child abuse resulting in death. Arthur Mesa Sr., 57, and Jesus Mesa, 21, the baby's grandfather and father, were each charged with possession of a dangerous dog resulting in death. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 8, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Father |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Maryann Hanula, 73-years old, died seven months after being attacked by two pit bulls. The attack occurred on October 10, 2011 in her front yard in the 15000 block of West Jackpot way around 8:00 pm. The dogs, a male and female, escaped their owner's gated property on the same street, the Surprise Police Department said. The dogs bit the woman all over her body and ate through most of her right foot. One neighbor who intervened was also bitten by the dogs. Surprise Fire Battalion Chief Autry Cheatham said another neighbor -- an off-duty Phoenix police officer -- shot and killed both animals. She was transported to John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, where she underwent 13 surgeries and suffered from multiple infections. Most of the last seven months of her life were spent in a hospital, friends said. She died on May 12. The owner of the pit bulls, Cynthia Montoya, had only lived on the block for three weeks. Six weeks after the attack, the Montoya family moved away. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office reviewed the case. No charges were brought. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 12, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Makayla Darnell, 3-days old, died after being bitten on the head by a male family pit bull-mix. The attack occurred around 6:30 pm in the 7200 block of North Thayer Road. The baby was sitting in an infant swing in the family's living room, while her mother and grandmother were in the kitchen, just a few feet away, when the dog attacked, said Steve Kahle, a Lucas County coroner’s investigator. The family never heard a sound from either the baby or the dog. "It all appeared to happen in a matter of seconds," Kale said. The parents drove the infant to Bluffton Hospital, where she was flown to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo. She was pronounced dead shortly after 11:00 pm. Lucas County Deputy Coroner Dr. Cynthia Beisser said the autopsy showed the baby died from blunt force injury to the head, consistent with a dog bite. The family dog, a 5-year old pit bull-mix named "Axel," was taken into custody by the Allen County dog warden. The baby's death occurred just five days before the State of Ohio abandoned its longstanding statewide pit bull law. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 17, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Parents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Eugene Cameron, 65-years old, was killed by a pit bull outside a home he was house sitting. Person County sheriff's deputies were called to 1189 Semora Road for a report of deceased man. Upon arrival, they found Cameron lying dead under a car port. His clothes were ripped off, "severe lacerations" were observed on his right arm, and bloody paw prints surrounded his body. Authorities removed a male pit bull, "DMX," owned by Antonio Ford, who resided next door. DNA tests were performed to determine if Ford's dog was linked to the man's death. Throughout the investigation, Ford maintained his dog's innocence and posted a sign in his yard, "Free DMX U got the wrong dog." Test results matched DNA and blood from Ford's dog, DMX, to that found on Cameron, including DNA on bite marks in the clothing, Person County Sheriff Dewey Jones said. Tests also found Cameron's blood on the dog. Ford was charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony obstruction of justice. Ford was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 15 to 27 months in jail. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 26, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Ja'Marr Tiller, 2-years old, was killed by two dogs after he slipped out of his house. The attack occurred around 8:30 pm in the 2700 block of Highway 17 North. Five family members inside the home believed the boy was asleep. His mother, Deandra Tiller, was running an errand. When she returned home, she found her son outside with his clothes ripped off, said Octavia Johnson, the toddler’s aunt. "She came in the house screaming, 'A dog has killed my son!'" Paramedics transported the boy to Medical University Hospital, where he died. Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten said the child died from blunt and sharp trauma, and the wounds were "widely distributed" over his body. Two family dogs, a female black lab shepherd-mix and a female brindle lab shepherd-mix, were taken into custody by animal control. Due to feeding the stray dogs scraps for years, the dogs were owned by the boy's great-uncle, who lived next door. Tests later implicated both dogs in the boy's death. An inquest determined the boy’s death was an accident. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 27, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Labrador-shepherd mix (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Female | Owner of dog: | Great uncle |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Jack Redin, 2-years old, was killed by a pair of mixed-breed dogs, also identified as pit bulls. Deputies responded to the 100 block of Sugar Grove Road around 1:00 pm after a 911 call from the boy's father, Deputy Stephen McFarland of the Pleasants County Sheriff's Office said. The child was dead when police arrived. Jack and three other children had been playing in the family's yard most of the day. Jack had been riding around on a four-wheeler powered by batteries when he strayed from the group. When family members realized he was missing, they began searching along adjacent properties. The boy's father made the devastating discovery within a few minutes, McFarland said. The two dogs did not belong to the adjacent property owner, David Sweeney, but to his brother Daniel. David had been "taking care of the dogs" for his brother when the attack occurred. The dogs were confined by an underground electric fence around his property. But the invisible fence did not keep a toddler from wandering onto the property. No criminal charges were filed. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 13, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Mixed-breed (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Property owner |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Tyzhel McWilliams, 8-months old, was killed by a pit bull owned by his mother's roommate. The attack happened just before 5:00 pm in the 3500 block of West Street, the San Diego Sheriff's Department said. When deputies arrived, a woman was holding a gravely injured baby. The baby was rushed to Rady Children’s Hospital, where he died at 6:06 pm. Animal control officers removed three pit bulls from the home. The boy's mother moved into the single-story apartment two years ago with a female friend who owned three male pit bulls: "Blue" and his two offspring, "Zulu" and "Hercules." Just before the attack, Tyzhel was playing in the living room across the hall from the adults, who were in a bedroom with Zulu. The other two pit bulls were confined in other parts of the home. When the baby crawled into the bedroom, Zulu suddenly latched onto the infant's head. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death as "penetrating craniocerebral injuries due to a dog bite." The manner of death was an accident. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 14, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Roommate |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Kevin Latz, 50-years old, was killed by a neighbor's pit bull. Deputies were called around 5:12 pm to the 17300 block of Bear Lake Drive about a "dog bite." Upon arrival, deputies found Latz dead after being mauled by a pit bull, according to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office report. Latz, who lived up the street, was invited over to barbecue by a man who lives at the home. When Latz went out on the back porch to light the grill, he encountered the pit bull, "Apollo." The dog immediately attacked him, states the report. Latz retreated into the laundry room, where the dog continued biting him up and down his legs until he dropped to the ground. The dog then started biting his chest and armpit area and next his throat, states the report. A witness said the dog was "chewing him up" and estimated the attack lasted 30-45 minutes. According to the autopsy report, Latz died "due to asphyxia due to compression of the larynx and trachea by a canine with other significant conditions: multiple blunt force injuries inflicted by the canine." The manner of death was accidental. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 27, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Ronnel Brown, 40-years old, died after being attacked by his own dog. Cincinnati fire and police were called to 3504 Cleveland Court just before 1:00 am after receiving a 911 call from Brown stating he had been attacked by his dog and was about to pass out. Upon arrival, the fire department was unable to gain entry because his dog was "berserk, out-of-control," according to Harold Dates of the Cincinnati SPCA. Police officers arrived about 10 minutes later and shot the dog, killing it. Paramedics found Brown dead. According to Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco, Brown was on dialysis at the time of the attack and had a device in his forearm. "The dog bit him in the forearm and ripped a hole in that device, that led to a lot of blood loss," Sammarco said. She added that the bite wounds were deep. The male dog, "Kilo," was described as an Alapaha blue-blood bulldog, which is a pit bull-American bulldog mix and unrecognized by established kennel clubs. Officers also found two bags of marijuana and two puppies inside the apartment. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 11, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-American bulldog mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Millicent Miller, 82-years old, died after being attacked by her son's American bulldog. The attack occurred on June 27 about 6:05 pm in the 900 block of Northwest 200th Terrace, a Miami Gardens police report states. Her son told police that Miller "bent over (Spike) dog's food bowl to retrieve it" at that point the dog latched onto her arm. Her son began hitting the dog with a stick, but was unsuccessful. The son's wife also intervened and was bitten on the chin. The dog "Spike" then attacked Miller in the "neck and stomach area." Her son retrieved a "knife from the kitchen and stabbed the dog in the lower back." Miller was airlifted to Jackson Healthcare System in critical condition. She remained hospitalized until she died on July 12. Miller died of "complications of multiple injuries" due to dog bites, states the medical examiner's report. The report also states that Miller had been hospitalized for dog bite injuries inflicted by the same dog on June 15, 2011. She was discharged two days later. Spike was euthanized after the second and fatal attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 12, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | American bulldog | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Son |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Rebecca Carey, 23-years old, was killed by one or more rescue dogs. The attack occurred inside her residence in the 3400 block of Midway Road. Officers initially believed her death was a homicide, DeKalb police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said. Dogs were later identified as the culprit. Her parents issued a statement after her death, "Upon placing her first abandoned animal in a permanent loving home in 2003, she volunteered countless hours with rescue networks and animal shelters. There she did what she loved the most: rescuing animals from untenable situations to find them safe, loving homes." Carey was caring for five dogs at the time: two pit bulls, two presa canarios -- one of which she was dog sitting for her friend Jackie Cira -- and a boxer-mix. Cira discovered her body at her home after Carey failed to show up for work at Alpharetta's Loving Hands Animal Clinic. The DeKalb County medical examiner ruled that Carey's death resulted from dog bites. All five dogs were removed by DeKalb County Animal Control. The dogs were later euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August, 12, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) Presa canario (2) Boxer-mix (1) |
Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Charles Hagerman, 44-years old, was killed by one of both family pit bulls. The attack occurred in the 56000 block of South Racine. Hagerman was found unresponsive when his wife, Charlotte Williams, and her son, Daryl Williams, returned to the home around 8:15 pm. When the two entered the apartment, one of the pit bulls was still "gnawing at his neck." Police believe he was already dead at that time. Chicago Animal Care and Control took both dogs into custody. Williams, Hagerman's stepson and the dogs' owner, said he and his mother left the home around 7:30 pm. “We always leave him at home with the dogs. Nothing ever happened,” Williams said. Hagerman's mother, Salithia Maybell, said the dogs had previously killed another dog. "They've attacked before," she said. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office determined he died due to multiple injuries from a dog attack, including a fatal neck injury. His death was ruled accidental. A grisly image circulated the Internet depicting the victim's fatal injuries in the days following the attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 15, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Stepson |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Dawn Jurgens, 76-years old, was killed by her two mastiff-type dogs. The attack occurred outside her home in the 800 block of North Union Road. Her husband, Carl Jurgens, discovered her body in the backyard, Trotwood police said. Officers said the dogs were cane corsos, a type of mastiff. Jurgens had visible major injuries to her face and scalp, as well as bite wounds on her arms, police said. No one witnessed the attack. A coroner's report listed the cause of death as multiple puncture wounds to the head and neck due to dog bites. The elderly couple began raising the pair of dogs from puppies about two-and-a-half years earlier. Carl told reporters that his wife lived for those dogs, "from the day they were born until Saturday," the day of her death. The victim's son, Joe Jurgens, dismissed the coroner's report. "I do not believe those dogs attacked her out of aggression," he said. "I can't imagine, even fathom, that they would attack and kill her," he said. Both dogs were removed by the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center and later euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 1, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Cane corso (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Bryton Cason, 4-years old, was killed by a dog in his own front yard. Around 8:30 pm, the boy's mother, Samantha Roland, reported her 4-year old son was missing from 7986 Acorn Drive, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Five law enforcement agencies went door-to-door searching for him. State Patrol even used a helicopter. After several hours, bloodhounds were utilized in the search. At 11:30 pm, the dogs led deputies to the boy's strewn clothes and lifeless body in the tall grass of his own front yard. An autopsy the following day determined the boy died of blunt force trauma due to a dog attack. Three dogs at Bryton's house were inspected by authorities and returned to the family. Neighbors suspected a "reddish-blonde" bulldog that was abandoned in the neighborhood may be the culprit. "That's been the real issue with the whole thing -- nobody witnessed it. So we don't know what dog or dogs are responsible for it," Seminole County Sheriff Heath Elliott said. Deputies caught the "reddish-blonde" bulldog two days later. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 5, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Unreleased | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Unreleased |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Unreleased |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Deborah Roberts, 45-years old, was killed by her two pit bulls. Deputies were called to a Redfield home at 100 NCTR Road around 11:00 pm. Upon arrival, they found a woman suffering extremely severe bites. "It was a gruesome scene. There was a substantial amount of blood at the scene," Major Lafayette Woods Jr. of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said. The victim's husband, Brian Roberts, told authorities he was away for about 20 minutes taking a shower at a neighbor's home. When he returned, he found the dogs tearing into her body on the kitchen floor and called 911. "I think my wife is dead. I am not sure," he told the operator, "her leg is almost chewed off." Deputies were forced to shoot and kill the larger pit bull in order to enter the home. Roberts was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined that severe bites from the dogs resulted in blood loss that caused her death. Investigators learned from the husband that Roberts was attacked by the same pit bulls previously. She was taken to an emergency room but did not report the attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 7, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
James Hudson, 10-months old, was killed by a family dog. Officers were called to 109 West Railroad Avenue around 6:00 pm for a report of a dog bite to a child, said Hertford Police Chief Douglas L. Freeman, Jr. The baby was not breathing when officers arrived at the home. The baby was transported to Albemarle Hospital, where he died. The child was inside the home under the care of his grandmother when the family's mixed-breed pit bull attacked the child, Freeman said. The boy’s grandmother, Terry Atkinsson, said she and other children were in the bedroom at the time. “We don’t know what happened," Atkinsson said. She tried to save the baby and was also injured by the dogs. In a previous incident, an older boy in the home was bitten by the same dog, "Copper." Nonetheless, the newest attack surprised Atkinsson. "The dog had never shown aggression toward the baby," she said. The Perquimans County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the dog had previously shown vicious propensities. The dog was taken into custody by Tri-County Animal Shelter and euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 11, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Grandparents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
William Donald Thomas, 83-years old, was killed by two loose rottweilers. The attack occurred in the 9100 block of Weaver Avenue around 3:55 pm, Leeds Police Chief Byron Jackson said. A responding officer shot and killed both dogs. The pair of rottweilers attacked Thomas while he was checking his mail. His wife had just returned from the grocery store when she found him lying in the neighbor's yard severely wounded. The dogs were lingering nearby. The rottweilers belonged to longtime neighbor Jerry Lenton and his wife, who ran a breeding operation on their property, housing three dozen rottweilers. Leeds police, assisted by Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control, Moody police and the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, removed 33 dogs -- all rottweilers and rottweiler-mix breeds -- from the property. Jackson said "four truckloads" of dogs were transported to Birmingham, ranging from friendly to dangerous. A grand jury later indicted Jerry Lenton, 56, and his wife Jacqueline Lenton, 56, for manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 20, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Rayden Bruce, 3-months old, was killed by his father's pet pit bull. The attack began with a domestic dispute call around 6:48 pm in the 200 block of Linda Drive, Burleson police Commander Cindy Aaron said. The baby's mother, Jessica Oxner, 20, had taken the child to visit his father, Barnett Bruce, 20, when the argument took place. The dispute escalated and someone made a 911 hang-up call. Bruce's father, Richard Douglas, was holding the child. When police arrived, one officer took a statement from the mother outside while another spoke to the father inside the home. When the baby fell asleep in the grandfather's arms, he laid the baby down on a bed and returned to speak with his son. Not long after, the grandfather heard noises coming from the room and found his son's pit bull had attacked the baby. He grabbed the child and ran outside screaming, where two police officers were still taking statements from witnesses. The baby was rushed to Cook Children's Medical Center, where he died. The pit bull, "Brody," was euthanized by Burleson Animal Control. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 24, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Father |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Nellie Davis, 61-years old, was killed by one of her granddaughter's two pit bulls. The large male dog broke out of its crate and attacked Davis in her apartment at 12700 North Pennsylvania Avenue. 911 dispatch received a frantic call from a 22-year old female at 11:30 pm, said Captain Dexter Nelson with the Oklahoma City Police Department. She told dispatch she returned home to find that one of her pit bulls had broken the lock on its crate and fatally attacked her grandmother. "You have to understand, the scene was quite gruesome," Nelson said. This woman "died a very horrific death." Responding officers were forced to dispatch the dog, as it continued to act aggressively and could not be contained. The granddaughter and her two pit bulls had been staying with Davis at the Highland Apartments prior to studying abroad, Nelson said. Davis' husband, Cleveland Davis, Sr., said he told his wife and granddaughter to get rid of the pit bulls. The one that attacked her was known to get agitated during storms, he said. A thunderstorm rolled in prior to the attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 26, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Granddaughter |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Mary Jo Hunt, 53-years old, was killed by seven rescue pit bulls. At about 12:30 pm, deputies responded to a 911 call about a dog attack at 17 Sharon Lane. The woman was "mangled and her clothes were torn off," Robeson County Sheriff Kenneth Sealy said. When deputies arrived, the dogs were still attacking Hunt, but she was already dead. Hunt had been trying to separate a small dog from the larger dogs using a rake when the dogs knocked her down and mauled her, Sealy said. A pug was found nearly dead in the yard, along with three other injured dogs. Authorities seized nine dogs from her home. All of the dogs were "rescued" dogs, Sealy said. According to Bill Smith, the director of the Robeson County Health Department, none of the dogs seized -- seven pit bulls and two terriers -- had been rescued from the county shelter. The victim lived with her sister, who was at work at the time. Both sisters worked for the Robeson County Claws and Paws Rescue. All of the dogs had been up for adoption through the rescue. All seven pit bulls were euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | October 2, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (7) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Tarilyn Bowles, 3-weeks old, was killed by a pit bull on Detroit's west side. Police were dispatched to the 7700 block of Stahelin Avenue around 5:45 pm. The baby's mother, 24, took the infant inside the home strapped into a car seat, Sergeant Eren Stephens with the Detroit Police Department said. The mother set the car seat on the dining room floor and stepped away, not knowing there was a loose dog in the home. A male pit bull, who had just been fed scraps out the back door, managed to get into the house and attack the baby's face while the mother's back was turned. The baby was transported to Sinai-Grace Hospital, where she died. The dog was removed by a "phalanx" of officers and loaded into a Detroit police van. The mother and baby had been staying with friends at the home since the baby's birth, police said. The dog's owner said "Caine" was not vicious and blamed the attack on the dog "smelling baby formula" on the infant's clothing. Neighbor, Rose Hill, however, said the dog would always growl at her and "look at us like it was going to attack us." [source citations]
| Date of death: | October 4, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Family friend |
| Spay/Neuter: | Yes | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Robert Rochester Jr., 55-years old, a U.S. Postal Service employee, was attacked by a German shepherd on his collection route on October 12. Police were alerted to the attack in the 300 block of Main Street around 4:15 pm. After biting Rochester, the dog ambushed a dog being walked by a woman. To end that assault, “the trooper fired his divisional-issued handgun, striking the dog," Corporal John Day of the Delaware State Police said. The attack upon Rochester was witnessed by many people driving by. He tried to stop traffic for help and ran between cars to escape the dog. "He was saying, let me in, let me in," witness Victor Hartnett said. "No cars would open the door for him," witness Adreanna Cruz said. One woman in a truck opened her door and drove him to the hospital. After being released, he experienced chest pains and died. The initial autopsy was left as a case "pending forensic analysis." Within a month, the U.S. Postal Service began treating his death as an "on-the-job death." The 12-year old German shepherd, "Roma," was euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | October 18, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | German shepherd | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Property owner |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Dixie Jennings, 3-months old, was killed by her grandmother's rottweiler. The baby was bitten on the head around 11:40 am, Yadkin County Sheriff Ricky Oliver said. The Forsyth County medical examiner said the infant died from head and brain injuries due to a dog bite. The bite occurred at Deep Creek Kennel, located at 1221 Deep Creek Lane, which is owned by the child's grandmother, Robin Jennings, the former president of the Yadkin County Humane Society. The infant's mother, Sarah Jennings, also worked at the kennel and was with Dixie in the office when a customer came in. Sarah took the dog and its owner to the kennel area -- a door separates the two areas -- but the door behind them failed to latch. A rottweiler belonging to Robin pushed through the door and entered into the office area. When Sarah and Robin returned the office, they found the rottweiler standing beside the injured child. The mother transported her baby to Hoots Memorial Hospital, but she did not survive. The offending rottweiler was euthanized at a local veterinarian's office that day. [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 9, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Grandmother |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Remedios Romero-Solares, 30-years old, was killed by one or more bull breeds in the backyard of a home. Her body was discovered by a cousin who went to check on her at 1305 Calle Tecolotan in Fallbrook, San Diego County sheriff’s Seargent Brian Jenkins said. Animal control officers impounded all eight dogs running loose in the yard and said the owner was breeding and selling the animals. The dogs were described as a cross-breeding of "Olde English Bulldogge" and American bulldog. The Medical Examiner's Office determined Remedios died of "penetrating, mauling and blunt-force injuries" inflicted by at least one or more dogs. The single, Hispanic woman had been hired to clean the residence while the owners were out of town. When deputies checked inside the home to ensure that no one else had been injured, they found 24 marijuana plants in a rear bedroom. Deputies seized the grow operation. In January 2013, it was announced that no criminal charges would be filed in connection to her death and that only five dogs participated in the mauling.4 [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 11, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | American bulldog-mix (5) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Property owner |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Dawn Brown, 44-years old, was killed by a recently adopted bullmastiff. Around 4:15 pm, Brown was found dead by her husband in the 400 block of Jefferson Street, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office said. Her body bore severe wounds. At the time, Dawn was home alone with the bullmastiff and two other dogs, a boxer and a pit bull-mix. Four animal control handlers were needed to control the 140 pound mastiff. An autopsy determined she died due to bites to her neck, said Lieutenant Pat Gengler of the Kane County Sheriff's Office. The couple adopted the dog about a week earlier from a family member with a newborn who "didn't want the big dog," Gengler said. Like her husband, Bob, Dawn was a volunteer firefighter with the Big Rock Fire Protection District -- the same agency that responded to the 911 call. Brown brought the dog into the fire station three days before the attack, Big Rock Fire Chief John Ruh said. "I didn’t like having a dog in the station," he said, "but I knew Dawn was trying to socialize it, so I didn’t say anything about it. Maybe I should have." [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 12, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Bullmastiff | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Esteban Alavez, 34-years old, was killed by four pit bulls that had a history of running at large and killing pets. His body was found in a driveway with "traumatic injuries" at 12606 South Highland Avenue around 7:10 pm. A "Beware of Dog" and "No Trespassing" signs were stapled to a telephone pole on the owner's unfenced property. Fresno County sheriff's detectives determined what happened after finding bloody paw prints around the man's body. The prints led police to four pit bulls at a nearby residence that still had blood on them. Liberty Animal Control seized the dogs, along with six pit bull puppies and two other dogs from the home. Fresno County Coroner David Hadden determined Alavez died from dog bites, including a bite that punctured his jugular vein. According to neighbors, the same pit bulls had killed two local dogs in the last month, neither of those incidents were reported to authorities. In January 2014, felony arrest warrants were issued for the dogs' owners: Raymond Rodriguez Barron, 57, Laura Barron, 45, and Angie Barron, 82. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 11, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (4) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Property owner |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Elizabeth Hirt, 93-years old, died after being mauled by her two Boston terriers. The attack occurred on November 27, 2012 in the 8700 block of South State Route 202. Miami County sheriff's deputies were called to her home around 9:30 am by her son, Jerome Hirt, who stopped by to check on her. Deputies found Hirt lying on the floor covered in blood. "There was a large amount of blood when we got there," said Marcia Doncaster, Director of the Miami County Animal Shelter. Large chunks of flesh had been torn and eaten from her hands and legs, officers said. Hirt's daughter, Jennifer Dickensheets, 66, was home during the attack but was passed out from intoxication after drinking a bottle of Listerine mouthwash. Hirt was airlifted to the Miami Valley Hospital intensive care unit. She died on December 11. Jerome, who lived next door, said his mother was physically in good shape prior to the attack, but had symptoms of Alzheimer's. He last saw his mother alive a day earlier around noon. Authorities later declined to press charges against Dickensheets. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 11, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Boston terrier (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Savannah Edwards, 2-years old, was killed by a "rescue" pit bull while seeing a relative. Savannah and her mother were visiting 5831 South East Cross when the dog attacked her inside the home at about 3:57 pm, according to the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office. She was transported to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center with life-threatening injuries, where she died minutes later. Her cause of death was "crushing head injuries" from being bitten by a dog, states the autopsy report made public by the Shawnee County District Coroner's Office. Savannah suffered a displaced skull fracture, and multiple puncture and laceration wounds to the head, according to the report. The manner of death was an accident. The 6-year old male pit bull was taken into custody by the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office Animal Control unit. The dog's adult male owner had allegedly warned neighbors prior to the attack that his dog "would attack other dogs if given the chance." The pit bull was euthanized at the owner's request. The adoption agency was never released. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 13, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Relative |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Tomas Henio, 8-years old, was killed by up to nine mixed-breed dogs near his family's home in Pinehill. The child was found face-down, unresponsive with bites on his body by his mother and stepfather at 8:00 pm, Cibola County Undersheriff Tony Mace said. The boy had been sledding down a snowy hill by his mother's house before the attack. "He was already dead when we picked him up," said stepfather Keith Comosona. Of the nine dogs involved, one belonged to the boy's family and was reported to have bitten the child on a past occasion, Mace said. "It's a horrible, horrible situation." The other eight dogs, described as stray or feral, were under the care of the boy's great-uncle who had become a "collector" of dogs over the years -- feeding and sheltering abandoned dogs. The same pack killed four goats earlier in December, said Fidel Apache, an uncle of the boy. All nine dogs were seized by animal control and euthanized. The boy's mother, Yolonna Henio, and Comosona, both intoxicated at the time, were charged with child endangerment. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 26, 2012 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Mixed-breed (9) | Relationship to dog: | Mixed |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Parents and great-uncle |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Deaths involving minor dog bite injury, dog-related caused injury (killed by a car while fleeing a dog) and cases that lacked a "reasonably clear" determination of death after dog bite injury are not included in our fatality statistical data. Deaths involving fatal non-bite injury (struck by dog death) or deaths due to untreated severe dog bites (sepsis) may be added to our statistical data at a future time.
Fatal Pit Bull Attacks: An archive of U.S. fatal pit bull maulings from 1833 to December 2024, maintained by DogsBite.org.
DogsBite.org is a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks. Through our work, we hope to protect both people and pets from future attacks. | Make a donation today »
Copyright © 2007-2026 DogsBite.org | Published by Lynn Media Group
DogsBite